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She is an interesting case study because she couldn't buy a layup but was a sniper from 15 feet and out.
WNBA -- 2023 Season
- Thread starter UConnCat
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I would not say that our win streak was an illusion. I would chalk it up to beating the teams that we were supposed to beat and then losing to the team(s) that we figured that we would lose too. In the Aces game, a win would have been a shocker. Us losing to the Aces, it was expected. This loss today against Dallas, the loss was expected. By that wide of a margin? Not expected. Holy smokes!
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I think this is Sabrina's normal like season. Last season, Sabrina would have these types of moments. For a few games, she would be, like you said, either awesome or bad. This is Sabrina. Glad that she had one of those games where she got rolling and was in that zone.
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And Fever fail down the stretch again
Bigboote
That's big-boo-TAY
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Most (all?) of the teams have a noon or 1 PM game aimed at kids in summer camp. I love the atmosphere of those games.
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Blue Huskie
Transhumanist Consultant
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I thought they did quite well today. Came from 20 points down to force OT against one of the better teams. Exciting game.
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They’ve done “ quite well” a number of times this year . . . But not well enough at the FINAL buzzer.
bbsamjj
Rutgers Rooter
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What's actually schizophrenic about Sabrina this year is her 2pt FGs versus her 3pt FGs. She's shooting just 32.5% from 2-pt range, but 44.6% from 3pt range. She's second in the league in 3-pointers made and has played at least 2 games less than everyone around her in those standings.
So you're an opposing team, you'd think--okay we guard her closely and take the risk she can drive past us, cause her 2-pt shots are bad. Problem is--1. you do that, you make it easier for Sabrina to find the 4 other options on the floor [and she is still an excellent passer] and 2. Sabrina's range is VERY deep, so you're now guarding really far out on the court.
also FWIW, even when Sabrina has a "bad" game scoring wise, she is usually feeling up the stat sheet with rebounds and assists.
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I've not kept up with the WNBA much this season. Life has kept me pretty busy but I've read over some stats and box scores.
I really don't think I've seen this many injuries from key players. All teams have at least someone who would be a starter/contributor out. Is playing almost year round taking a toll on some of these players? Just wondering what's going on.
I really don't think I've seen this many injuries from key players. All teams have at least someone who would be a starter/contributor out. Is playing almost year round taking a toll on some of these players? Just wondering what's going on.
MilfordHusky
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Minnesota won fairly close games against teams that were weak and/or good matchups for them. They are still a slow team that can be scoring challenged. I don't think they can compete with the top 4. They aren't a real contender, but they look like a real playoff team (top 6-8).
When Dallas is on, they can be really good. Arike can shoot her team into or out of games. But if she shoots a high percentage and Dangerfield gets the ball moving to her, Howard, Sabally, and McCowan/Brown, Dallas can be the best offensive team other than Las Vegas.
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When they are off....not so much
Dallas is 5th in the league in scoring trailing the Aces, Liberty, Dream and Sun, all of whom are superior to Dallas offensively certainly more consistent.
Defensively....6th in the W, nudging ahead of the walking wounded in LA.
Over the rest of July they're facing a one and four record with a win against LA .
I'm not at all confident they can compete at home against the Mystics and the Sun.
Losses are looming on the road....Vegas and NY.
The lack of consistency will likely doom Dallas.
The high point for their season was the home W over the Aces last week as McCowen (+/- +14) outplayed Wilson. I don't think anyone expects that to happen again. I do expect Arike to go 9 for 21 with 4 turnovers....(+/- -1) again and again and again.
MilfordHusky
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I'm hoping that the new coach and Crystal's influence will make Arike a more efficient player.
Do you know where Dallas now stands in pace of play? They were 1st or 2nd about 10 games into the season. Their game plan is speed.
Other than Vegas, no one in the W seems consistent. NY has barely won some games against mediocre or weak teams, Connecticut misses Jones, and Washington is now down 3 starters, 2 of whom are All-Stars.
Bigboote
That's big-boo-TAY
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People who pay attention to me (I'm not saying there are any, nor is there any reason to) know I think the world of Grace and Aliyah. But about Grace:
I watched the game against the Liberty last night (a day late). Berger played 35 minutes, and I thought very well. Her ±line was +1 in an 8 point (overtime) loss. It's seemed to me that the Fever generally play better with her in the lineup even when her stats don't look great. I looked it up and she's the only (that I found) Fever player with a positive +/- line for the season. Sure, maybe she's mostly playing against second-stringers (not true the other night), but over 15 games I think it's indicative that the Fever really do play better with Berger in the lineup.
And, man alive, she puts fannies in the seats! Drafting Berger and Boston was one good decision the Fever have made in the last year. The Egbo-for Zahui-B trade isn't looking so good right now.
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We love that the Lynx offers these noon games. Like you said, the summer camps. We have kids that are doing summer camp and these noon games are fun and the kids enjoy them as much as the grownups.
Dwyane Wade joining ownership group of WNBA's Chicago Sky
Dwyane Wade, who will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame next month, is joining the ownership group of the WNBA's Chicago Sky.
"We all talk about support, and support looks different for everyone," Wade, who will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame next month, told ESPN. "And so instead of tweeting out and saying 'go support the W,' instead of showing up at the game and supporting, I wanted to take it to that next level, and this was the next level for me."
Since this is occurring in season.
Clearly the kind of step necessary to improve the visibility and reach of women's basketball.
Hopefully Wade will be a more successful owner than MJ and I think that this type of celebrity investment can kickstart a new phase for the league including:
1. A high level Major League media deal
2. Successful expansion
3. The foundation for both sustainable growth and a expanding share of the sports entertainment market
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Coach Sides said in an interview that she thinks she has multiple future All-Stars on the team besides Boston and Mitchell. They're just young and need to mature. I personally think she was talking about Berger, Smith, and Hull...or at least I believe all three have had moments in games this season that support Coach Sides claim.
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I think universally most people that have followed the Fever believes that Grace deserve more playing time. She has her moments of being a rookie but she has shown great upside when given a chance. Her and Boston have a great chemistry on the floor and they seem to be some of the most levelheaded players while on the court.
Catering to egos and not addressing the problem will continue to haunt this franchise. Coach Sides will need to take reign of this team or she'll be likely out next season.
Dillon77
WBB Enthusiast; ND Alum, Fan
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Unless she totally loses the team -- and I don't think she's anywhere near that -- I don't think Sides is in any danger whatsoever of losing her job. The near-universal sentiment I've seen on this thread this season is the Fever needs to not lose games at the end of the 4th quarter. Lot of 1st and 2nd year players with some vets and....and a firs- year head coach. Should she be merely judged on the end-of-game scenario? No. They're in the games, too, and playing hard and well, at times.
I think some decisions by Dunn and Sides on what vets to keep (or not) need to be made off-season. I'm still scratching my head on the Egbo deal, but let's see what happens.
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I’m with you on all accounts. Berger is the only guard who can get the ball to the post players.
TheFarmFan
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Can anyone who's been watching Fever games this season share their thoughts on Lexie Hull's development and play? Her shooting stats seem much better than last season and her steals rate is quite high, but the highlights I've seen are mostly her steals and occasional 3 pointers when a post passes inside out to her at the wing.
She was rarely a selfish player when in a Cardinal uniform and her shooting attempts per game aren't very high, so I'm wondering whether she's one of the "selfish" guards folks have in mind in criticizing the Fever's play. Thanks!
Dillon77
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You know, this is the kind of situation where the stat sheet can tell a fib.
Erica Wheeler does average 5.1 assists per game, which is 10th in the league, but her efficiency rating is 2nd lowest among those 10 guards. But what doesn't shine through are when those assists are made. I've watched a few of these 4th quarter bomb-outs/snoozes and strange things happen. Instead of getting rid of the ball at the FT line or just inside, Wheeler will dribble into too far and get doubled, which cuts down on the efficacy or the next pass and shot.
Add to that, that's when Kelsey Mtichell and/or N'Lyssa Smith start hero-balling it. Guess who does not see the ball when that happens? Yup, Alyssa Boston.
@TheFarmFan , this is not an issue of Lexie hoisting it up. If anything, she and Wallace are usually in a corner getting one of those too little, too late passes from Wheeler or Mtichell.
I know Sides wanted to bring some of her Atlanta trusties with her, but Hull is starting to show she's got more upside than Wallace and Berger has that chill factor, in that she doesn't get flustered. And, she won't dribble into trouble.
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From the games I've watched, I don't consider her play as "selfish". I'm happy she's getting more comfortable at the WNBA level. Enjoyed watching her play at Stanford.
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Wheeler is a little bit of a head scratcher. Like you're saying, she tends to be good when the pressure is low and bad when the stakes are high -- which is bad when it's a close game in the final minute.
Hull is the energy player on the team and probably their best defender at guard. She is opportunistic on offense. She'll take a shot if she is open or if there is a lane. Unless there's 3 sec on the clock, she isn't one to try and play "hero" ball.
Wallace has been disappearing lately and I don't know why. She has looked really good in a few games but has struggled as of late. I think she is just going through a funk right now.
MilfordHusky
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The All-Star Game 3-point contest was historic. Sabrina, Sami, and Arike made the finals. Then Sabrina went Total Curry and broke the WNBA and NBA records. She made 25 of 27 shots, including 2 shots from deeper, for 37 points. At one point, she made 20 in a row. All the players were at the edge of their seats or standing to watch history. Watch the replay--it's amazing!
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HuskyFan1125
"Dont be the same, be better"
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MilfordHusky
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A little longer version:
Actually, Sabrina hit 20 in a row, not 14!
Actually, Sabrina hit 20 in a row, not 14!
Dillon77
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That was Yowza. Actually, YOWZA!!!
I've never seen anything like that. Way to go Sabrina.
I don't know, I just feel like too many people appear to not want be there. That plus Sides seems to imply in her post game pressers that the players often does something different than what she plans. It's just seems like some of the players might not respect her and see that seems problematic. Maybe they will trade those players first, but i wouldn't be surprised given how trigger happy Dunn has been, if she's gone if things don't improve.
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